Day 1: Chicken Alfredo with broccoli, Shaved beet salad

Day 2: Sloppy joes, Sauteed kale, Fruit smoothie

Day 3: Homemade pizza, Tossed salad

Day 4: Chopped salad with quinoa, sweet potatoes, and apples, Fruit smoothie

Day 5: Tuna salad wraps (lettuce or tortillas), Carrot sticks

Day 6: Black bean soup, Corn muffins from frozen supply

Day 7: Shrimp, orange, and arugula salad

Notes: Make the chicken ahead and chop it up so that the chicken Alfredo comes together really quickly. I use chicken with bones and save the bones along with any vegetable scraps to make broth. Throw the bones and scraps in your freezer until you have a bunch ready to make broth.

If you are not typically an adventurous eater, I dare you to try the shaved beet salad. I don’t know the reason behind this, but for some reason whenever I thinly slice vegetables, my kids are more likely to eat them. Hey, whatever works!

Green Tip of the Week: It’s dandelion time! I spotted the first few bright, yellow rays of sunshine in my yard this week. I know there are many out there that don’t share my opinion on this, but dandelions are not the enemy. While I try to avoid having them take over my whole yard, I actually enjoy seeing the dandelions. The yellow color brightens my day. And did you know that dandelion greens are edible? Unfortunately, I live in a neighborhood where these plants are not looked upon so fondly. So, to keep them under control I spread corn gluten over my yard in the spring, again near the Fourth of July and then again after Labor Day. Corn gluten is a natural “pre-emergent” as well as a fertilizer. It is a byproduct of corn production and when it gets in the soil it prevents seeds from germinating. It is very useful for preventing crab grass and future dandelions from sprouting and is non-toxic. However, it will not kill any weeds that are currently present. For that you have to hand pick each plant or spray with other chemicals. Glyphosphate (brand name Roundup) is a very effective herbicide and is the most common herbicide used residentially and commercially. But, there is a strong correlation between this chemical and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, birth defects, and reproductive disorders. It is also suspected to be an endocrine disruptor (linked to diabetes and cancer). Children and pets are especially susceptible to these effects as their immune systems and bodies are not as developed to clear toxins. Additionally, over spraying of glyphosphate or spraying before it rains can lead to phosphate run-off into lakes and streams, which affects wildlife. So, I do my best to avoid toxic herbicides and enjoy the dandelions. This week I ask you to think about why we work so hard to have the perfect, weed free lawn and what the cost is to us and our environment.